Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

There are provided a display panel with a touch detection function, a
drive circuit, and an electronic unit, which make it possible to realize
many functions related to touch detection. The display panel includes:
one or more display elements; one or more drive electrodes extending in
one direction; an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and
applying a drive signal to the drive electrodes; and one or more touch
detection electrodes extending in a direction intersecting the direction
in which the drive electrodes extend.

Claims:

1. A display panel with a touch detection function, the display panel
comprising: one or more display elements; one or more drive electrodes
extending in one direction; an electrode drive section integrated into a
chip, and applying a drive signal to the drive electrodes; and one or
more touch detection electrodes extending in a direction intersecting the
direction in which the drive electrodes extend.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, further comprising a display
drive section driving the display elements, wherein the display drive
section is integrated together with the electrode drive section.

3. The display panel according to claim 2, wherein the electrode drive
section applies a drive signal to the drive electrodes, based on a
display synchronization signal supplied from the display drive section.

4. The display panel according to claim 3, further comprising a
touch-detection control section controlling touch detection operation,
wherein the touch-detection control section generates a touch-detection
synchronization signal based on the display synchronization signal, and
the electrode drive section applies the drive signal to the drive
electrodes, based on the touch-detection synchronization signal.

5. The display panel according to claim 4, wherein the touch-detection
control section is integrated together with the electrode drive section.

6. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein a capacitance is
formed between each of the drive electrodes and each of the touch
detection electrodes, and a detection signal according to the drive
signal applied to the drive electrodes is outputted from the touch
detection electrode.

7. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the electrode drive
section performs scanning by sequentially selecting one or more
electrodes to be driven out of the drive electrodes, and applies the
drive signal to the electrode to be driven.

8. The display panel according to claim 7, wherein the electrode drive
section has a plurality of scanning modes whose methods of sequentially
selecting the electrode to be driven are different from each other.

9. The display panel according to claim 2, further comprising a power
control section controlling power supply to the electrode drive section
and the display drive section, and integrated together with the electrode
drive section.

10. A display panel with a touch detection function, the display panel
comprising: one or more display elements; one or more touch detection
elements; and a drive section integrated into a chip, and driving the one
or more touch detection elements.

11. A drive circuit comprising: a display drive section driving one or
more display elements; and an electrode drive section integrated into a
chip, and applying a drive signal to one or more drive electrodes that
extend in a direction intersecting a direction in which one or more touch
detection electrodes extend.

12. An electronic unit including a display panel with a touch detection
function and a control section performing operation control using the
display panel, the display panel comprising: one or more display
elements; one or more drive electrodes extending in a direction; an
electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a drive
signal to the drive electrodes; and one or more touch detection
electrodes extending in a direction intersecting the direction in which
the drive electrodes extend.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display panel with a touch
detection function which detects a touch event by an external proximity
object, a drive circuit thereof, and an electronic unit having such a
display panel with a touch detection function.

[0002] In recent years, attention has been given to a display panel
configured by mounting a contact sensing device, a so-called touch panel,
on a display such as a liquid crystal display or the like, or integrating
the touch panel and the display, thereby causing the display to display
various button images and the like to enable information input, in place
of ordinary mechanical buttons. The display panel having such a touch
panel is allowed not to have an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse,
or a keypad and therefore, there is a growing trend to use the display
panel in a portable information terminal such as a portable telephone, in
addition to a computer.

[0003] There are some types of the touch panel, including an optical type,
a resistive type, and a capacitance type. For example, Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-258182 has proposed a
so-called in-cell type display panel with a touch detection function.
According to this document, in a capacitance-type touch panel, a common
electrode for display originally provided in a display is used as one of
a pair of touch sensor electrodes, and the other (a touch detection
electrode) is disposed to intersect this common electrode. In this
display panel with a touch detection function, an AC signal applied to
this common electrode is transmitted to the touch detection electrode via
a capacitance between the common electrode and the touch detection
electrode. Then, a touch event is detected based on a detection signal
outputted from the touch detection electrode. A drive circuit that
performs driving by applying this AC signal to the common electrode is
formed on a TFT board made of glass or the like.

SUMMARY

[0004] Incidentally, it has been desired that such a display panel with a
touch detection function have more functions related to touch detection.
However, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2009-258182 provides no specific description about an attempt to achieve
multifunctionality.

[0005] In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a display
panel with a touch detection function, a drive circuit, and an electronic
unit, which make it possible to realize many functions related to touch
detection.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
provided a first display panel with a touch detection function, the first
display panel including one or more display elements; one or more drive
electrodes extending in one direction; an electrode drive section
integrated into a chip, and applying a drive signal to the drive
electrodes; and one or more touch detection electrodes extending in a
direction intersecting the direction in which the drive electrodes
extend.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
provided a second display panel with a touch detection function, the
second display panel including one or more display elements; one or more
touch detection elements; and a drive section integrated into a chip, and
driving the one or more touch detection elements.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
provided a drive circuit including a display drive section driving one or
more display elements; and an electrode drive section integrated into a
chip, and applying a drive signal to one or more drive electrodes that
extend in a direction intersecting a direction in which one or more touch
detection electrodes extend.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is
provided an electronic unit including the display panel with a touch
detection function and a control section performing operation control
using the display panel, the display panel including: one or more display
elements; one or more drive electrodes extending in a direction; an
electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a drive
signal to the drive electrodes; and one or more touch detection
electrodes extending in a direction intersecting the direction in which
the drive electrodes extend. For example, a television receiver, a
digital camera, a personal computer, a video camera, a portable terminal
device such as a portable telephone, or the like corresponds to this
electronic unit.

[0010] In the first and second display panels, the drive circuit, and the
electronic unit according to the above-described embodiments of the
present disclosure, the drive signal is applied to the drive electrode by
the electrode drive section, and a detection signal according to the
drive signal is outputted from the touch detection electrode. This
electrode drive section is integrated into the chip.

[0011] According to the first and second display panels, the drive
circuit, and the electronic unit in the above-described embodiments of
the present disclosure, the electrode drive section is integrated into
the chip and thus, it is possible to realize many functions related to
touch detection.

[0012] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to
provide further explanation of the technology as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a
part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and,
together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of the
technology.

[0014] Parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 1 are diagrams for explaining a basic
principle of a touch detection scheme in a display panel with a touch
detection function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
and illustrate a state in which there is no touch or approach of a
finger.

[0015] Parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 2 are diagrams for explaining the basic
principle of the touch detection scheme in the display panel with a touch
detection function according to the embodiment of the present disclosure,
and illustrate a state in which there is a touch or an approach of the
finger.

[0016] Parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 3 are diagrams for explaining the basic
principle of the touch detection scheme in the display panel with a touch
detection function according to the embodiment of the present disclosure,
and illustrate an example of a waveform of a drive signal and an example
of a waveform of a touch detection signal, respectively.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a
display panel with a touch detection function according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a schematic
sectional structure of a display device with a touch detection function
illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixel arrangement in the
display device with a touch detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration
example of drive electrodes and touch detection electrodes in the display
device with a touch detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0021] FIGS. 8A to 8C are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation
example of touch detection scanning in the display panel with a touch
detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation
example of the display panel with a touch detection function illustrated
in FIG. 4.

[0023] Parts (A) to (H) of FIG. 10 are timing waveform charts illustrating
an operation example of the display panel with a touch detection function
illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0024] Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11 are timing waveform charts illustrating
an example of touch detection operation in the display panel with a touch
detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0025] Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 12 are timing waveform charts illustrating
another example of the touch detection operation in the display panel
with a touch detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0026] FIGS. 13A to 13C are explanatory diagrams each illustrating an
example of power supply control in the display panel with a touch
detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0027] FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic diagrams each illustrating an
implementation example of the display panel with a touch detection
function.

[0028]FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of
a display panel with a touch detection function according to a
modification of the embodiment.

[0029] FIGS. 16A to 16C are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation
example of touch detection scanning in a display panel a touch detection
function according to another modification of the embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation
example of a display panel with a touch detection function according to
still another modification of the embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an
appearance of an application example 1, among display panels each
provided with a touch detection function, to which the embodiment is
applied.

[0032] FIGS. 19A and 19B are perspective views each illustrating a
configuration of an appearance of an application example 2.

[0033]FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an
appearance of an application example 3.

[0034] FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an
appearance of an application example 4.

[0035] FIGS. 22A to 22G are front views, side views, a top view, and a
bottom view each illustrating a configuration of an appearance of an
application example 5.

[0036] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a schematic
sectional structure of a display device with a touch detection function
according to a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0037] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below in
detail with reference to the drawings. Incidentally, the description will
be provided in the following order.

1. Basic Principle of Capacitance-Type Touch Detection

2. Embodiment

3. Application Examples

1. Basic Principle of Capacitance-Type Touch Detection

[0038] At first, with reference to Parts (A) and (B) of each of FIG. 1 to
FIG. 3, there will be described a basic principle of touch detection in a
display panel with a touch detection function according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure. This touch detection scheme is embodied as a
capacitance-type touch sensor, and forms a capacitive element by using,
as illustrated in, for example, Part (A) of FIG. 1, a pair of opposed
electrodes (a drive electrode E1 and a touch detection electrode E2) with
a dielectric body D in between. This structure is expressed as an
equivalent circuit illustrated in Part (B) of FIG. 1. A capacitive
element C1 is configured by using the drive electrode E1, the touch
detection electrode E2, and the dielectric body D. Of the capacitive
element C1, one end is connected to an AC-signal source (drive signal
source) S, and the other end P is grounded via a resistor R and also
connected to a voltage detector (touch detection circuit) DET. When an AC
rectangular wave Sg (Part (B) of FIG. 3) of a predetermined frequency
(for example, around several kHz to tens kHz) is applied to the drive
electrode E1 (the one end of the capacitive element C1) from the
AC-signal source S, an output waveform (a touch detection signal Vdet) as
illustrated in Part (A) of FIG. 3 appears in the touch detection
electrode E2 (the other end P of the capacitive element C1). It is to be
noted that this AC rectangular wave Sg is equivalent to an AC drive
signal VcomAC to be described later.

[0039] In a state in which there is no touch (or approach) of a finger, an
electric current I0 according to a capacitance value of the capacitive
element C1 flows, accompanying charge and discharge for the capacitive
element C1, as illustrated in Parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 1. An electric
potential waveform at the other end P of the capacitive element C1 at
this moment is, for example, like a waveform V0 in Part (A) of FIG. 3,
and this is detected by the voltage detector DET.

[0040] On the other hand, in a state in which there is a touch (or an
approach) of a finger, a capacitive element C2 formed by the finger is
added to the capacitive element C1 in series, as illustrated in Parts (A)
and (B) of FIG. 2. In this state, currents I1 and I2 flow, accompanying
charge and discharge for the capacitive elements C1 and C2, respectively.
An electric potential waveform at the other end P of the capacitive
element C1 at this moment is, for example, like a waveform V1 in Part (A)
of FIG. 3, and this is detected by the voltage detector DET. At the time,
the electric potential of the point P is a partial pressure potential
determined by the values of the currents I1 and I2 flowing through the
capacitive elements C1 and C2. For this reason, the waveform V1 is a
value smaller than the waveform V0 in a noncontact state. The voltage
detector DET compares the detected voltage with a predetermined threshold
voltage Vth, and determines that the noncontact state is established when
the detected voltage is equal to or higher than this threshold voltage,
and on the other hand, determines that a contact state is established
when the detected voltage is lower than this threshold voltage. In this
way, the touch detection is enabled.

2. Embodiment

Configuration Example

Overall Configuration Example

[0041]FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration example of a display panel with
a touch detection function 1 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. This display panel with a touch detection function 1 is of a
so-called in-cell type, in which a liquid crystal display element is used
as a display element, and a liquid crystal display device configured by
using the liquid crystal display element and a capacitance-type touch
detection device are integrated.

[0042] This display panel with a touch detection function 1 includes a
drive section 50, a gate driver 12, a display device with a touch
detection function 10, and a touch detection section 40.

[0043] The drive section 50 drives the display device with a touch
detection function 10. This drive section 50 is integrated to be a chip
through, for example, a silicon process, and implemented on a pixel board
2 as a so-called COG (Chip On Glass), as will be described later.

[0044] The drive section 50 includes a display control section 11, a
source driver 13, a scanning section 51, a drive electrode driver 52, and
a power control section 53.

[0045] The display control section 11 is a circuit that supplies a control
signal to each of the source driver 13, the gate driver 12, and the touch
detection section 40, based on an image signal Vdisp supplied externally,
thereby controlling these elements to operate in synchronization with one
another. Specifically, the display control section 11 supplies a pixel
signal Vsig and a source-driver control signal to the source driver 13,
supplies a gate-driver control signal to the gate driver 12, and supplies
a horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and a vertical synchronization
signal Vsync to the touch detection section 40.

[0046] The source driver 13 generates a pixel signal Vpix based on the
pixel signal Vsig and the source-driver control signal supplied from the
display control section 11, and supplies the generated signal to a pixel
signal line SGL of the display device with a touch detection function 10.
As will be described later, the pixel signal Vpix supplied to the pixel
signal line SGL is written in pixels Pix of one row (one horizontal line)
selected by the gate driver 12, among pixels Pix configured in a matrix
in the display device with a touch detection function 10, and thereby
display is performed.

[0047] The scanning section 51 is configured to include a shift register,
and generates a plurality of scanning signals based on a TX
synchronization signal Vtx supplied from the touch detection section 40,
and supplies the generated signals to the drive electrode driver 52. As
will be described later, the scanning signals respectively correspond to
a plurality of drive electrode blocks B (to be described later) driven by
the drive electrode driver 52, and thereby the drive electrode driver 52
sequentially scans and drives these drive electrode blocks B.

[0048] The drive electrode driver 52 is a circuit that supplies a drive
signal Vcom to a drive electrode COML (to be described later) of the
display device with a touch detection function 10, based on the scanning
signal supplied from the scanning section 51. Specifically, the drive
electrode driver 52 amplifies the scanning signal supplied from the
scanning section 51, and generates the drive signal Vcom by performing
impedance conversion. This drive signal Vcom is a signal including a
pulse waveform (an AC drive signal VcomAC), and the drive electrode
driver 52 applies the AC drive signal VcomAC to the drive electrodes COML
in touch detection operation. In display operation, the drive electrode
driver 52 applies a DC voltage (a DC drive signal VcomDC) to the drive
electrodes COML. A DC voltage of this DC drive signal VcomDC is, for
example, 0 V, and a high-level voltage VH of the AC drive signal VcomAC
may be set at, for example, 5.5 V. As will be described later, the drive
electrode driver 52 drives the drive electrodes COML for each block (the
drive electrode block B to be described later) including a predetermined
number of drive electrodes COML.

[0049] The power control section 53 controls power supply to each block
(the display control section 11, the source driver 13, the scanning
section 51, and the drive electrode driver 52) of the drive section 50,
based on a display source voltage VDDD and a touch-detection source
voltage VDDT which have been supplied thereto. In addition, the power
control section 53 supplies the touch detection section 40 with a display
power flag signal Vpd indicating whether the display source voltage VDDD
is supplied. Specifically, the display power flag signal Vpd is a logic
signal that is at a high level (e.g., 1.8 V) when the display source
voltage VDDD is supplied, and at a low level (0V) when the display source
voltage VDDD is not supplied.

[0050] The gate driver 12 has a function of sequentially selecting one
horizontal line targeted for display driving of the display device with a
touch detection function 10, based on the gate-driver control signal
supplied from the display control section 11. Specifically, as will be
described later, the gate driver 12 generates a scanning signal Vscan
based on the control signal supplied from the display control section 11,
and applies the scanning signal Vscan to a gate of a TFT element Tr of
the pixel Pix via a scanning signal line GCL, thereby sequentially
selecting one row (one horizontal line) of the pixels Pix formed in a
matrix in a liquid-crystal display device 20 of the display device with a
touch detection function 10, as a target for the display driving. The
gate driver 12 is supplied with the display source voltage VDDD.

[0051] This gate driver 12 is formed on a TFT board 21 of the display
device with a touch detection function 10 to be described later. At the
time when the TFT element Tr (to be described later) of the
liquid-crystal display device 20 is formed, the gate driver 12 is formed
using the same process.

[0052] The display device with a touch detection function 10 is a display
device with a built-in touch detection function. The display device with
a touch detection function 10 has the liquid-crystal display device 20
and a touch detection device 30. The liquid-crystal display device 20 is,
as will be described later, a device that performs display by
sequentially scanning the horizontal lines one by one, according to the
scanning signal Vscan supplied from the gate driver 12. The touch
detection device 30 operates based on the above-described basic principle
of the capacitance-type touch detection, and outputs the touch detection
signal Vdet. This touch detection device 30 is, as will be described
later, configured to perform sequential scanning according to the AC
drive signal VcomAC supplied from the drive electrode driver 52, and
thereby performing the touch detection.

[0053] The touch detection section 40 is a circuit that detects the
presence or absence of a touch event on the touch detection device 30,
based on the touch-detection control signal supplied from the display
control section 11 and the touch detection signal Vdet supplied from the
touch detection device 30 of the display device with a touch detection
function 10, and when there is a touch event, determines its coordinates
or the like in a touch detection region. The touch detection section 40
is supplied with the touch-detection source voltage VDDT.

[0054] This touch detection section 40 has a LPF (Low Pass Filter) section
42, an A/D conversion section 43, a signal processing section 44, a
coordinate extraction section 45, and a touch-detection control section
46. The LPF section 42 is a low-pass analog filter that removes a high
frequency component (noise component) contained in the touch detection
signal Vdet supplied from the touch detection device 30, and extracts and
outputs each touch component. The A/D conversion section 43 is a circuit
that samples each analog signal outputted from the LPF section 42 at
timing synchronized with the AC drive signal VcomAC, and converts the
analog signal into a digital signal. The signal processing section 44 is
a logical circuit that detects the presence or absence of a touch event
on the touch detection device 30, based on an output signal of the A/D
conversion section 43. The coordinate extraction section 45 is a logical
circuit that determines, when the touch event is detected in the signal
processing section 44, its touch-panel coordinates. The touch-detection
control section 46 controls the LPF section 42, the A/D conversion
section 43, the signal processing section 44, and the coordinate
extraction section 45, to operate in synchronization with one another,
based on the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the vertical
synchronization signal Vsync supplied from the display control section
11. In addition, the touch-detection control section 46 also has a
function of generating the TX synchronization signal Vtx, based on the
horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the vertical synchronization
signal Vsync, and supplying the generated signal to the scanning section
51. This TX synchronization signal Vtx is, for example, a logic signal
changing between a low level (e.g., 0 V) and a high-level (e.g., 1.8 V).
Specifically, when the display power flag signal Vpd is at a high level,
the touch-detection control section 46 generates the TX synchronization
signal Vtx, based on the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the
vertical synchronization signal Vsync supplied from the display control
section 11, and when the display power flag signal Vpd is at a low level,
the touch-detection control section 46 generates the TX synchronization
signal Vtx by itself.

Display Device with Touch Detection Function 10

[0055] Next, a configuration example of the display device with a touch
detection function 10 will be described in detail.

[0056] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a cross-sectional structure of a
main part in the display device with a touch detection function 10. This
display device with a touch detection function 10 includes the pixel
board 2, an opposite board 3 disposed to face this pixel board 2, and a
liquid crystal layer 6 interposed between the pixel board 2 and the
opposite board 3.

[0057] The pixel board 2 has a TFT board 21 serving as a circuit board,
the drive electrodes COML, and pixel electrodes 22. The TFT board 21
functions as a circuit board where various electrodes, wires, thin film
transistors (TFTs), and the like are formed. The TFT board 21 is made of,
for example, glass. Formed on the TFT board 21 are the drive electrodes
COML. The drive electrode COML is an electrode to supply a voltage common
to the pixels Pix (to be described later). This drive electrode COML
functions as a common drive electrode for liquid-crystal-display
operation, and also functions as a drive electrode for touch detection
operation. Formed on the drive electrodes COML is an insulating layer 23,
and the pixel electrodes 22 are formed on the insulating layer 23. The
pixel electrode 22 is an electrode to supply a pixel signal for display,
and has translucency. The drive electrode COML and the pixel electrode 22
are made of, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).

[0058] The opposite board 3 has a glass substrate 31, a color filter 32,
and touch detection electrodes TDL. The color filter 32 is formed on one
surface of the glass substrate 31. This color filter 32 is configured,
for example, by periodically arranging color filter layers of three
colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and one set of the three
colors of R, G and B is associated with each display pixel. Formed on the
other surface of the glass substrate 31 are the touch detection
electrodes TDL. The touch detection electrode TDL is an electrode made
of, for example, ITO, and has translucency. On this touch detection
electrode TDL, a polarizing plate 35 is disposed.

[0059] The liquid crystal layer 6 functions as a display functional layer,
and modulates light passing therethrough according to the state of an
electric field. This electric field is formed by a potential difference
between a voltage of the drive electrode COML and a voltage of the pixel
electrode 22. A liquid crystal in a transverse electric field mode, such
as FFS (Fringe Field Switching) and IPS (In Plane Switching) is used in
the liquid crystal layer 6.

[0060] It is to be noted that each of between the liquid crystal layer 6
and the pixel board 2, and between the liquid crystal layer 6 and the
opposite board 3, an oriented film is disposed, and an incidence-side
polarizing plate is disposed on the undersurface side of the pixel board
2, but the illustration is omitted here.

[0061] FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration example of a pixel structure in
the liquid-crystal display device 20. The liquid-crystal display device
20 has the pixels Pix arranged in a matrix. Each of the pixels Pix is
configured to include three subpixels SPix. These three subpixels SPix
are arranged to correspond to the three colors (RGB) of the color filter
32 illustrated in FIG. 5, respectively. The subpixel SPix has the TFT
element Tr and a liquid crystal element LC. The TFT element Tr is
configured by using a thin-film transistor and, in this example,
configured by using an n-channel MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) TFT. Of
the TFT element Tr, a source is connected to the pixel signal line SGL, a
gate is connected to the scanning signal line GCL, and a drain is
connected to one end of the liquid crystal element LC. As for the liquid
crystal element LC, one end is connected to the drain of the TFT element
Tr, and the other end is connected to the drive electrode COML.

[0062] The subpixel SPix is connected to other subpixels SPix belonging to
the same row of the liquid-crystal display device 20, by the scanning
signal line GCL. The scanning signal line GCL is connected to the gate
driver 12, and supplied with the scanning signal Vscan from the gate
driver 12. In addition, the subpixel SPix is connected to other subpixels
SPix belonging to the same column of the liquid-crystal display device
20, by the pixel signal line SGL. The pixel signal line SGL is connected
to the source driver 13, and supplied with the pixel signal Vpix from the
source driver 13.

[0063] Further, the subpixel SPix is connected to other subpixels SPix
belonging to the same row of the liquid-crystal display device 20, by the
drive electrode COML. The drive electrode COML is connected to the drive
electrode driver 52, and supplied with the drive signal Vcom from the
drive electrode driver 52.

[0064] With this configuration, in the liquid-crystal display device 20,
the gate driver 12 drives the scanning signal line GCL to perform the
line sequential scanning time-divisionally, and thereby one horizontal
line is selected sequentially, and the pixels Pix belonging to the
selected one horizontal line are supplied with the pixel signal Vpix from
the source driver 13, and thereby display is performed for every one
horizontal line.

[0065] FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration example of the touch detection
device 30 perspectively. The touch detection device 30 is configured to
include the drive electrodes COML provided at the pixel board 2, and the
touch detection electrodes TDL provided at the opposite board 3. The
drive electrode COML is configured to have stripe-shaped electrode
pattern extending in a lateral direction of this figure. When touch
detection operation is performed, the AC drive signal VcomAC is
sequentially supplied from the drive electrode driver 52 to the electrode
pattern, and sequential scanning driving is performed in a time-sharing
manner, as will be described later. The touch detection electrode TDL is
configured to have stripe-shaped electrode pattern extending in a
direction orthogonal to the direction in which the electrode pattern of
the drive electrode COML extend. The electrode pattern of the touch
detection electrode TDL is connected to the LPF section 42 of the touch
detection section 40. The electrode patterns of the drive electrode COML
and the touch detection electrode TDL crossing each other form a
capacitance at the intersection.

[0066] By this configuration, in the touch detection device 30, when the
drive electrode driver 52 applies the AC drive signal VcomAC to the drive
electrode COML, the touch detection signal Vdet is outputted from the
touch detection electrode TDL, and thereby the touch detection is
performed. In other words, the drive electrode COML corresponds to the
drive electrode E1, and the touch detection electrode TDL corresponds to
the touch detection electrode E2, in the basic principle of the touch
detection illustrated in Part (A) of FIG. 1 to Part (B) of FIG. 3, and
thus, the touch detection device 30 detects a touch event in accordance
with this basic principle. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the electrode
patterns intersecting each other form the capacitance-type touch sensor
in a matrix. Therefore, it is also possible to detect a position where a
touch or an approach of an external proximity object has occurred, by
scanning an entire touch detection surface of the touch detection device
30.

[0067] FIGS. 8A to 8C schematically illustrate touch detection scanning.
FIGS. 8A to 8C illustrate operation of applying the AC drive signal
VcomAC to each of drive electrode blocks B1 to B20, in a case where a
display region/touch detection region includes the twenty drive electrode
blocks B1 to B20. A drive-signal-applied block BAC indicates the drive
electrode block B to which the AC drive signal VcomAC is applied, and the
DC drive signal VcomDC is applied to other drive electrode blocks B. As
illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the drive electrode driver 52 sequentially
selects the drive electrode block B targeted for the touch detection
operation, applies the AC drive signal VcomAC thereto, and scans all the
drive electrode blocks B. At the time, as will be described later, the
drive electrode driver 52 applies the AC drive signal VcomAC to each of
the drive electrode blocks B over a predetermined number of horizontal
periods. It is to be noted that, in this example, the number of the drive
electrode blocks B is twenty for convenience of description, but is not
limited to this number.

[0068] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an implementation example of the
display panel with a touch detection function 1. As illustrated in FIG.
9, the drive section 50 is implemented as the COG on the pixel board 2,
and connected to each of the drive electrode blocks B arranged side by
side via a wire L. In this example, the wires L are provided on an upper
side and a lower side of the drive electrode blocks B in FIG. 9, and the
drive section 50 is allowed to drive each of the drive electrode blocks B
from both sides. Then, the gate driver 12 (12A and 12B) is formed on the
TFT board 21 by using a TFT element, and connected to the drive section
50. In this example, the gate driver 12 is disposed on an upper side
(12A) and a lower side (12B) of the pixel board 2 in FIG. 9, and is
allowed to drive the pixels Pix (not illustrated) disposed in a matrix in
a display region Ad, from both sides. Further, the touch detection
section 40 is implemented on a flexible printed circuit board T, and
connected to each of the touch detection electrodes TDL arranged side by
side.

[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 9, this drive section 50 is disposed on a
side (the right side) of the pixel board 2 which is different from the
sides where the gate drivers 12A and 12B are disposed, in the display
panel with a touch detection function 1. This allows the length of the
wire L to be made short, and makes it easy for the drive section 50 to
drive the drive electrode block B, compared to a case where the drive
section 50 is disposed on the flexible printed circuit board T, for
example.

[0070] It is to be noted that, in this example, the wires L are disposed
on the upper side and the lower side of the drive electrode blocks B in
FIG. 9, but are not limited to this example, and may be provided only on
one of the upper side and the lower side of the drive electrode blocks B.
Similarly, in this example, the two gate drivers 12A and 12B are
provided, but this is not a limitation, and a configuration in which only
one of these gate drivers is provided may be adopted.

[0071] Here, the liquid crystal element LC corresponds to a specific
example of "display element" in the present disclosure. The AC drive
signal VcomAC corresponds to a specific example of "drive signal" in the
present disclosure. The scanning section 51 and the drive electrode
driver 52 correspond to a specific example of "electrode drive section"
in the present disclosure. The display control section 11 and the source
driver 13 correspond to a specific example of "display drive section" in
the present disclosure. The horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and
the vertical synchronization signal Vsync correspond to a specific
example of "display synchronization signal" in the present disclosure.
The TX synchronization signal Vtx corresponds to a specific example of
"touch-detection synchronization signal" in the present disclosure.

Operation and Function

[0072] Next, there will be described the operation and function of the
display panel with a touch detection function 1 in the present
embodiment.

[0073] First, a summary of the entire operation of the display panel with
a touch detection function 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
Based on the image signal Vdisp supplied externally, the display control
section 11 supplies the control signal to each of the gate driver 12, the
source driver 13, and the touch detection section 40, thereby controlling
these elements to operate in synchronization with one another. The gate
driver 12 supplies the scanning signal Vscan to the liquid-crystal
display device 20, thereby sequentially selecting one horizontal line
targeted for display driving. The source driver 13 generates the pixel
signal Vpix, and supplies the generated signal to each of the subpixels
SPix of one horizontal line. The liquid crystal display device 20 of the
display device with a touch detection function 10 performs display
operation.

[0074] Based on the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the
vertical synchronization signal Vsync supplied from the display control
section 11, the touch-detection control section 46 of the touch detection
section 40 generates the TX synchronization signal Vtx. The scanning
section 51 generates the scanning signal based on this TX synchronization
signal Vtx, and the drive electrode driver 52 generates the drive signal
Vcom based on this scanning signal and supplies the generated signal to
the drive electrode COML of the touch detection device 30 in the display
device with a touch detection function 10. Based on the drive signal
Vcom, the touch detection device 30 outputs the touch detection signal
Vdet from the touch detection electrode TDL. The LPF section 42 of the
touch detection section 40 removes the high frequency component (noise
component) contained in the touch detection signal Vdet, and extracts and
outputs the touch component. The A/D conversion section 43 converts the
analog signal outputted from the LPF section 42 into the digital signal.
The signal processing section 44 detects the presence or absence of a
touch event on the display device with a touch detection function 10,
based on the output signal of the A/D conversion section 43. When the
touch detection is performed in the signal processing section 44, the
coordinate extraction section 45 determines its touch-panel coordinates.

[0075] The power control section 53 of the drive section 50 controls the
power supply to each of the blocks in the drive section 50, based on the
display source voltage VDDD and the touch-detection source voltage VDDT
supplied thereto.

Detailed Operation

[0076] Next, detailed operation of the display panel with a touch
detection function 1 will be described.

[0077] Parts (A) to (H) of FIG. 10 illustrate timing waveform examples of
the display panel with a touch detection function 1, namely, Part (A)
indicates a waveform of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync, Part
(B) indicates a waveform of the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync,
Part (C) indicates waveforms of the scanning signal Vscan, Part (D)
indicates a waveform of the pixel signal Vsig, Part (E) indicates
waveforms of the pixel signal Vpix, Part (F) indicates a waveform of the
TX synchronization signal Vtx, Part (G) indicates a waveform of the drive
signal Vcom, and Part (H) indicates a waveform of the touch detection
signal Vdet.

[0078] In the display panel with a touch detection function 1, the touch
detection operation and the display operation are carried out in each one
horizontal period (1H). In the display operation, the gate driver 12
sequentially applies the scanning signal Vscan to the scanning signal
line GCL, thereby performing the display scanning In the touch detection
operation, the drive electrode driver 52 sequentially applies the AC
drive signal VcomAC to each of the drive electrode blocks B, thereby
performing the touch detection scanning, and the touch detection section
40 detects the touch event based on the touch detection signal Vdet
outputted from the touch detection electrode TDL. The details will be
described below.

[0079] First, at timing t0, the display control section 11 generates a
pulse as the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync, and supplies the
generated pulse to the touch-detection control section 46 (Part (B) of
FIG. 10). As a result, one horizontal period begins. Further, at this
timing t0, the display control section 11 generates a pulse having a
width corresponding to the one horizontal period, and supplies this pulse
to the touch-detection control section 46 similarly (Part (A) of FIG.
10). In other words, in this example, one frame period (1F) starts at the
timing t0.

[0080] Next, in a period of timings t1 to t2, the touch-detection control
section 46 generates a pulse as the TX synchronization signal Vtx (Part
(F) of FIG. 10). In response to this, the scanning section 51 of the
drive section 50 selects the drive electrode block B related to the touch
detection operation (here, the kth drive electrode block B(k)), and
generates a pulse as the scanning signal corresponding to the drive
electrode block B(k). The drive electrode driver 52 amplifies this
scanning signal, and also performs the impedance conversion, thereby
generating and applying a pulse (the AC drive signal VcomAC) as the drive
signal Vcom (B(k)) to the drive electrode block B(k) (Part (G) of FIG.
10). This AC drive signal VcomAC is transmitted to the touch detection
electrode TDL through the capacitance, and the touch detection signal
Vdet changes (Part (H) of FIG. 10). Then, at sampling timing ts, the A/D
conversion section 43 of the touch detection section 40 performs A/D
conversion of the output signal of the LPF section 42 to which this touch
detection signal Vdet has been inputted (Part (H) of FIG. 10). The signal
processing section 44 of the touch detection section 40 performs the
touch detection, based on a result of this A/D conversion collected over
a plurality of horizontal periods, as will be described later.

[0081] Next, at timing t3, the gate driver 12 applies the scanning signal
Vscan to the scanning signal line GCL(n) in the nth row related to the
display operation, and the scanning signal Vscan(n) changes from a low
level to a high level (Part (C) of FIG. 10). Then, the source driver 13
applies the pixel signal Vpix to the pixel signal line SGL (Part (E) of
FIG. 10), and the display of the pixels Pix of the one horizontal line
related to the scanning signal line GCL(n) in the nth row is performed.

[0082] Specifically, at first, the gate driver 12 changes the scanning
signal Vscan(n) from the low level to the high level at the timing t3,
thereby selecting the one horizontal line related to the display
operation. Then, the display control section 11 supplies the source
driver 13 with a pixel voltage VR for a red subpixel SPix, as the pixel
signal Vsig (Part (D) of FIG. 10). The source driver 13 separates the
pixel voltage VR supplied by the display control section 11, from the
pixel signal Vsig, and supplies the pixel voltage VR as a pixel signal
VpixR to the red subpixel SPix related to the one horizontal line,
through the pixel signal line SGL (Part (E) of FIG. 10). Similarly, the
display control section 11 supplies the source driver 13 with a pixel
voltage VG for a green subpixel SPix as the pixel signal Vsig (Part (D)
of FIG. 10), and the source driver 13 separates this pixel voltage VG
from the pixel signal Vsig, and supplies the pixel voltage VG as a pixel
signal VpixG to a green subpixel SPix related to the one horizontal line
(Part (E) of FIG. 10). Afterwards, similarly, the display control section
11 supplies the source driver 13 with a pixel voltage VB for a blue
subpixel SPix (Part (D) of FIG. 10), and the source driver 13 separates
this pixel voltage VB from the pixel signal Vsig, and supplies the pixel
voltage VB as a pixel signal VpixB to a blue subpixel SPix related to the
one horizontal line (Part (E) of FIG. 10).

[0083] Next, at timing t4, the gate driver 12 changes the scanning signal
Vscan(n) of the scanning signal line GCL in the nth row from the high
level to the low level (Part (C) of FIG. 10). This electrically isolates
the subpixel SPix of the one horizontal line related to the display
operation, from the pixel signal line SGL.

[0084] Afterwards, in the display panel with a touch detection function 1,
by repeating the operation described above, the display operation in the
entire display screen is performed by the line-sequential scanning, and
also the touch detection operation in the entire touch detection region
is carried out by performing the scanning for each of the drive electrode
blocks B, as will be described below.

[0085] Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11 illustrate an operation example of the
touch detection scanning, namely, Part (A) illustrates a waveform of the
vertical synchronization signal Vsync, Part (B) illustrates a waveform of
the TX synchronization signal Vtx, Part (C) illustrates waveforms of the
drive signal Vcom, and Part (D) illustrates a waveform of the touch
detection signal Vdet.

[0086] As illustrated in Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11, the drive electrode
driver 52 generates the AC drive signal VcomAC synchronized with the TX
synchronization signal Vtx, and sequentially applies the generated AC
drive signal VcomAC to each of the drive electrode blocks B, thereby
performing the touch detection scanning for the drive electrode COML. At
the time, the drive electrode driver 52 applies the AC drive signal
VcomAC to each of the drive electrode blocks B over a predetermined
number of horizontal periods (Part (C) of FIG. 11). The touch detection
device 30 outputs the touch detection signal Vdet based on this AC drive
signal VcomAC, in each of the one horizontal periods (Part (D) of FIG.
11), and the touch detection section 40 samples this touch detection
signal Vdet. In the touch detection section 40, after the sampling in the
last one of the predetermined number of horizontal periods is finished,
the signal processing section 44 detects the presence or absence of the
touch event in a region corresponding to the drive electrode block B,
based on the plurality of sampling results. In this way, the touch
detection is performed based on the plurality of sampling results and
thus, it is possible to analyze the sampling results statistically,
suppress deterioration of the S/N ratio caused by variation of the
sampling results, and enhance accuracy of the touch detection.

[0087] In the display panel with a touch detection function 1, the
scanning section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 related to the
touch detection operation are integrated together with the display
control section 11 and the source driver 13 related to the display
operation, and formed as one chip. An effect of this integration will be
described below.

Multifunctionality

[0088] In the display panel with a touch detection function 1, the
scanning section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 are integrated to
be the chip and thus, it is possible to form a more multifunctional
circuit. In other words, for example, in a case where the scanning
section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 are formed on the TFT board
21 of the display device with a touch detection function 10 by using the
same process as that of the TFT element Tr like the gate driver 12,
processing accuracy is, for example, 3 [um] which is low, and therefore,
the circuit area is large. On the other hand, in the case where the
scanning section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 are made to be one
chip through a silicon process and the like, and implemented as a COG,
processing accuracy is, for example, 80 [nm] which is high, and
therefore, it is possible to make the circuit area smaller. In other
words, in the case where the scanning section 51 and the drive electrode
driver 52 are formed using the same process as that of the TFT element
Tr, it is difficult to form a multifunctional circuit because of a
limitation in terms of circuit area, but providing them as one chip makes
it possible to form more circuits per unit area and thus allows
implementation of a multifunctional circuit.

[0089] This achievement of multifunctionality allows, for example, more
complicated touch detection scanning and more intricate power supply
control, in the display panel with a touch detection function 1. An
example thereof will be described below in detail.

[0090] Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 12 illustrate an example of more
complicated touch detection scanning, namely, Part (A) illustrates a
waveform of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync, Part (B)
illustrates a waveform of the TX synchronization signal Vtx, Part (C)
illustrates waveforms of the drive signal Vcom, and Part (D) illustrates
a waveform of the touch detection signal Vdet.

[0091] In this example, the drive electrode driver 52 applies the AC drive
signal VcomAC only to the odd-numbered drive electrode blocks B (B(1),
B(3), B(5), . . . ). This makes it possible to detect whether a touch is
made in the touch detection region, in a short time. In other words, in
Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11, it is possible to determine the position of
the touch event in the touch detection region specifically, by
sequentially driving all the drive electrode blocks B, and in this
example (Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 12), it is possible to detect only
whether a touch is merely made, by sequentially driving only the
odd-numbered drive electrode blocks B among all the drive electrode
blocks B.

[0092] The touch detection scanning as illustrated in Parts (A) to (D) of
FIG. 12 may not be realized by, for example, merely changing the waveform
of a signal inputted into the shift register, in the scanning section 51
configured to perform the touch detection scanning in Parts (A) to (D) of
FIG. 11. In other words, in order to perform both the scanning in Parts
(A) to (D) of FIG. 11 and the scanning in Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 12,
addition of a circuit dedicated to achieve multifunctionality is desired.
In the display panel with a touch detection function 1, the scanning
section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 are integrated and formed as
the chip and thus, such multifunctionality may be realized with a small
circuit area.

[0093] FIGS. 13A to 13C each illustrate an example of the power supply
control, namely, FIG. 13A illustrates a case in which both the display
operation and the touch detection operation are performed, FIG. 13B
illustrates a case in which only the display operation is performed, and
FIG. 13C illustrates a case in which only the touch detection operation
is performed. In FIGS. 13A to 13C, blocks made in solid lines each
indicate a block supplied with power, and blocks made in dashed lines
each indicate a block supplied with no power.

[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 13A, when both the display source voltage
VDDD and the touch-detection source voltage VDDT are supplied, the power
control section 53 of the drive section 50 performs power supply to each
of the blocks (the display control section 11, the source driver 13, the
scanning section 51, and the drive electrode driver 52) in the drive
section 50. This makes the display panel with a touch detection function
1 perform the display operation and the touch detection operation as
described above.

[0095] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, when only the display source
voltage VDDD is supplied, the power control section 53 performs power
supply to the display control section 11, the source driver 13, and the
drive electrode driver 52 among the blocks in the drive section 50. At
the time, the drive electrode driver 52 supplies the DC drive signal
VcomDC to all the drive electrodes COML. In other words, the drive
electrode driver 52 does not apply the AC drive signal VcomAC to the
drive electrodes COML. Then, the source driver 13 supplies the pixel
signal Vpix to one horizontal line selected by the gate driver 12. In
this way, the display panel with a touch detection function 1 performs
only the display operation in this case.

[0096] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 13C, when only the
touch-detection source voltage VDDT is supplied, the power control
section 53 performs power supply to the scanning section 51 and the drive
electrode driver 52 among the blocks in the drive section 50. At the
time, the power control section 53 generates the display power flag
signal Vpd at a low level, and supplies this signal to the
touch-detection control section 46 of the touch detection section 40.
Then, the touch-detection control section 46 generates the TX
synchronization signal Vtx by itself, and supplies this signal to the
scanning section 51. This causes the scanning section 51 and the drive
electrode driver 52 to generate the drive signal Vcom, and supply this
signal to the drive electrode COML. Then, the touch detection section 40
detects a touch event based on the touch detection signal Vdet according
to this drive signal Vcom. In this way, the display panel with a touch
detection function 1 performs only the touch detection operation in this
case.

[0097] In this way, in the display panel with a touch detection function
1, the power control section 53 is provided in the drive section 50, and
a function of controlling power supply is built therein and therefore,
the power supply control according to its use and the like is allowed,
making it possible to reduce power consumption.

Reduction in Frame Region

[0098] Next, a reduction in a frame region of the display panel with a
touch detection function 1 will be described in comparison with a
comparative example. A display panel with a touch detection function 1R
according to this comparative example is configured by forming a scanning
section and a drive electrode driver on a TFT board 21 of a display
device with a touch detection function 10, by using the same process as
that of a TFT element Tr, not as a chip of the drive section 50.
Otherwise, the display panel with a touch detection function 1R is
similar in configuration to the present embodiment (FIG. 4).

[0099] FIG. 14A schematically illustrates an implementation example of the
display panel with a touch detection function 1 according to the present
embodiment, and FIG 14B schematically illustrates an implementation
example of the display panel with a touch detection function 1R according
to the comparative example.

[0100] The display panel with a touch detection function 1R includes a
drive section 50R, a scanning section 51R (51RA and 51RB), and a drive
electrode driver 52R (52RA and 52RB) as illustrated in FIG. 14B. The
drive section 50R is configured by removing the scanning section 51 and
the drive electrode driver 52 from the drive section 50 of the present
embodiment. The scanning section 51R and the drive electrode driver 52R
are circuits having functions equivalent to those of the scanning section
51 and the drive electrode driver 52 according to the present embodiment,
and formed on the TFT board 21 of the display device with a touch
detection function 10, by using the same process as that of the TFT
element Tr. In this example, the scanning section 51RA and the drive
electrode driver 52RA are formed between drive electrode blocks B and a
gate driver 12A, and the scanning section 51RB and the drive electrode
driver 52RB are formed between the drive electrode blocks B and a gate
driver 12B. It is to be noted that this configuration corresponds to FIG.
15 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-258182.
In other words, it is conceivable that in this figure, a Vcom drive
circuit 9 is formed on a TFT board, using the same process as that of a
TFT element.

[0101] As illustrated in FIG. 14B, in the display panel with a touch
detection function 1R, the scanning section 51R and the drive electrode
driver 52R are formed using the same process as that of the TFT element
Tr in a manner similar to the gate driver 12, and therefore, its
processing accuracy is low, resulting in a large circuit area. Thus, a
width d (a width in a vertical direction in FIGS. 14A and 14B) of the
display panel with a touch detection function 1R is large, as compared to
the case of the present embodiment (FIG. 14A). In other words, in the
display panel with a touch detection function 1R, a region (a frame
region) outside a display region Ad is larger than that in the case of
the present embodiment (FIG. 14A). Therefore, this may, for example,
increase the size of an electronic unit provided with this display panel
with a touch detection function 1R, or reduce flexibility in design of
the electronic unit.

[0102] On the other hand, in the display panel with a touch detection
function 1 according to the present embodiment, the scanning section 51
and the drive electrode driver 52 are integrated and formed as the chip.
Therefore, the processing accuracy is high and thus, it is possible to
make the circuit area small, and reduce the frame region as illustrated
in FIG. 14A. This makes it possible to, for example, reduce the size of
an electronic unit provided with the display panel with a touch detection
function 1, or increase flexibility in design of the electronic unit.

Effects

[0103] As described above, in the present embodiment, the scanning section
and the drive electrode driver are integrated to be provided as the one
chip and thus, it is possible to realize a multifunctional circuit. This
allows, for example, more complicated touch detection scanning, and more
intricate power supply control.

[0104] In addition, in the present embodiment, since the scanning section
and the drive electrode driver are integrated to be the one chip, and
disposed on the side different from the side where the gate driver is
disposed, it is possible to shorten the width of the display panel with a
touch detection function, and reduce the frame region.

[0105] Further, in the present embodiment, the drive electrode driver is
disposed near the drive electrode blocks and thus, it is possible to make
the driving of the drive electrode blocks easy.

Modification 1-1

[0106] In the embodiment described above, the display source voltage VDDD
and the touch-detection source voltage VDDT are supplied separately to
each of the blocks of the display panel with a touch detection function
1, but this is not a limitation. Instead, for example, a common source
voltage VDD may be supplied. This example will be described below in
detail.

[0107]FIG. 15 illustrates a configuration example of a display panel with
a touch detection function 1B according to the present modification. The
display panel with a touch detection function 1B includes a drive section
50B and a touch detection section 40B. In the display panel with a touch
detection function 1B, a single source voltage VDD is supplied externally
and distributed to each block.

[0108] The drive section 50B has a power control section 53B. The power
control section 53B controls power supply to each block (a display
control section 11, a source driver 13, a scanning section 51, and a
drive electrode driver 52) of the drive section 50B based on a
power-supply control signal Vpow. Specifically, for example, the
power-supply control signal Vpow controls the power supply to each block
as in FIG. 13C when being a signal of ordering both display operation and
touch detection operation, controls the power supply to each block as in
FIG. 13B when being a signal of ordering only the display operation, and
controls the power supply to each block as in FIG. 13C when being a
signal of ordering only the touch detection operation. Further, the power
control section 53B supplies the touch detection section 40B with a
display power flag signal Vpd indicating whether the source voltage is
supplied to the block (the display control section 11 and the source
driver 13) related to the display operation, and also supplies the touch
detection section 40B with a touch-detection power flag signal Vpt
indicating whether the source voltage is supplied to the block (the
scanning section 51) related to the touch detection operation.
Specifically, this touch-detection power flag signal Vpt is a logic
signal that is at a high level (e.g., 1.8 V) when the source voltage is
supplied to the block related to the touch detection operation, and at a
low level (0 V) when the source voltage is not supplied to this block.

[0109] The touch detection section 40B has a touch-detection control
section 46B. Like the touch-detection control section 46 according to the
above-described embodiment, the touch-detection control section 46B
controls a LPF section 42, an A/D conversion section 43, a signal
processing section 44, and a coordinate extraction section 45 to operate
in synchronization with one another, based on a horizontal
synchronization signal Hsync and a vertical synchronization signal Vsync,
and also generates and supplies a TX synchronization signal Vtx to the
scanning section 51. In addition, the touch-detection control section 46B
also has a function of stopping the power supply to the LPF section 42,
the A/D conversion section 43, the signal processing section 44, and the
coordinate extraction section 45, when the touch-detection power flag
signal Vpt is at the low level.

[0110] In this case as well, it is possible to realize a reduction in
power consumption, by causing the power control section 53B to perform
the power supply control based on the power-supply control signal Vpow,
in the display panel with a touch detection function 1B.

Modification 1-2

[0111] In the above-described embodiment, the drive electrodes COML are
driven and scanned for each of the drive electrode blocks B each
including the predetermined number of drive electrodes COML, but this is
not a limitation. Instead, for example, a predetermined number of drive
electrodes COML may be driven simultaneously, and scanned by shifting
through the drive electrodes COML one by one. The details will be
described below.

[0112] FIGS. 16A to 16C schematically illustrate an operation example of a
drive electrode driver 52C according to the present modification. The
drive electrode driver 52C applies an AC drive signal VcomAC to a
predetermined number of drive electrodes COML simultaneously.
Specifically, the drive electrode driver 52C applies the AC drive signal
VcomAC to the predetermined number (five, in this case) of drive
electrodes COML simultaneously (a drive-signal-applied electrode LAC).
Then, the drive electrode driver 52C performs touch detection scanning by
shifting through one by one the drive electrodes COML to which the AC
drive signal VcomAC is applied. It is to be noted that, in this example,
the AC drive signal VcomAC is applied to the five drive electrodes COML
simultaneously, but is not limited to this example. Instead, the AC drive
signal VcomAC may be applied to four or less, or six or more drive
electrodes COML simultaneously. Further, in this example, the scanning is
performed by shifting through one by one the drive electrodes COML to
which the AC drive signal VcomAC is applied, but this is not a
limitation. Instead, shifting for every two or more may be performed.

Modification 1-3

[0113] In the embodiment described above, the touch detection section 40
and the drive section 50 are integrated into separate chips, but are not
limited to this example. Instead, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 17,
the touch detection section 40 and the drive section 50 may be integrated
into the same chip.

Other Modifications

[0114] In the above-described embodiment, the drive electrode block B is
configured to include the plurality of drive electrodes COML, but is not
limited to this example. Instead, for example, the plurality of drive
electrodes COML may be formed to be thick by being integrated, and this
may be driven as the drive electrode block B.

3. Application Examples

[0115] Next, with reference to FIG. 18 to FIG. 22G, there will be
described application examples of the display panel with a touch
detection function in each of the above-described embodiment and
modifications. The display panel with a touch detection function in each
of the embodiment and the like may be applied to electronic units in
various fields, such as television receivers, digital cameras, laptop
computers, portable terminal devices such as portable telephones, and
video cameras. In other words, it is possible to apply the display panel
with a touch detection function in each of the embodiment and the like to
electronic units in various fields, which display externally-input image
signals or internally-generated image signals as still or moving images.

Application Example 1

[0116] FIG. 18 illustrates an external view of a television receiver to
which the display panel with a touch detection function in any of the
embodiment and the like is applied. This television receiver has, for
example, an image display screen section 510 that includes a front panel
511 and a filter glass 512, and this video display screen section 510 is
configured using the display panel with a touch detection function
according to any of the embodiment and the like.

Application Example 2

[0117] FIGS. 19A and 19B each illustrate an external view of a digital
camera to which the display panel with a touch detection function in any
of the embodiment and the like is applied. This digital camera includes,
for example, a flash emitting section 521, a display section 522, a menu
switch 523, and a shutter release 524, and the display section 522 is
configured using the display panel with a touch detection function
according to any of the embodiment and the like.

Application Example 3

[0118]FIG. 20 illustrates an external view of a laptop computer to which
the display panel with a touch detection function in any of the
embodiment and the like is applied. This laptop computer includes, for
example, a main section 531, a keyboard 532 for entering characters and
the like, and a display section 533 that displays an image. The display
section 533 is configured using the display panel with a touch detection
function according to any of the embodiment and the like.

Application Example 4

[0119] FIG. 21 illustrates an external view of a video camera to which the
display panel with a touch detection function in any of the embodiment
and the like is applied. This video camera includes, for example, a main
section 541, a lens 542 disposed on a front face of this main section 541
to shoot an image of a subject, a start/stop switch 543 used at the time
of shooting, and a display section 544. The display section 544 is
configured using the display panel with a touch detection function
according to any of the embodiment and the like.

Application Example 5

[0120] FIGS. 22A to 22G illustrate external views of a portable telephone
to which the display panel with a touch detection function in any of the
embodiment and the like is applied. This portable telephone is, for
example, a device in which an upper housing 710 and a lower housing 720
are connected by a coupling section (hinge section) 730, and includes a
display 740, a sub-display 750, a picture light 760, and a camera 770.
The display 740 or the sub-display 750 is configured using the display
panel with a touch detection function according to any of the embodiment
and the like.

[0121] Up to this point, the present technology has been described by
using the embodiment and modifications, as well as the application
examples of electronic units, but is not limited to these embodiment and
the like, and may be variously modified.

[0122] For example, in the embodiment and the like, the liquid crystal
display device configured by using the liquid crystal in the transverse
electric field mode such as FFS and IPS, and the touch detection device
are integrated. However, instead, a liquid crystal display device using a
liquid crystal in various modes such as TN (Twisted Nematic), VA
(Vertical Alignment), and ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence),
and a touch detection device may be integrated. When such a liquid
crystal is used, the display device with a touch detection function may
be configured as illustrated in FIG. 23. FIG 23 illustrates an example of
a cross-sectional structure of a main part in a display device with a
touch detection function 10E according to the present modification, and
illustrates a state in which a liquid crystal layer 6B is held between a
pixel board 2B and an opposite board 3B. Names, functions, and the like
of all other elements are similar to those in the case of FIG. 5 and
thus, the description will be omitted. In this example, unlike the case
of FIG. 5, drive electrodes COML used for both display and touch
detection are formed on the opposite board 3B.

[0123] Further, for example, in each of the embodiment and the like, there
is employed the so-called in-cell type in which the liquid crystal
display device and the capacitance-type touch detection device are
integrated, but this is not a limitation. Instead, for example, there may
be employed a so-called on-cell type in which a capacitance-type touch
detection device is formed on a surface of a liquid crystal display
device.

[0124] Furthermore, for example, in each of the embodiment and the like,
the touch detection device is of capacitance type, but is not limited
thereto, and may be of, for example, optical type or resistive type,
instead.

[0125] Moreover, for example, in each of the embodiment and the like, the
display element is the liquid crystal element, but is not limited
thereto, and may be, for example, an EL (Electro Luminescence) element.

[0126] It is to be noted that the present technology may be configured as
follows.

[0130] an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a
drive signal to the drive electrodes; and

[0131] one or more touch detection electrodes extending in a direction
intersecting the direction in which the drive electrodes extend.

[0132] (2) The display panel according to (1), further including

[0133] a display drive section driving the display elements,

[0134] wherein the display drive section is integrated together with the
electrode drive section.

[0135] (3) The display panel according to (2), wherein the electrode drive
section applies a drive signal to the drive electrodes, based on a
display synchronization signal supplied from the display drive section.

[0138] wherein the touch-detection control section generates a
touch-detection synchronization signal based on the display
synchronization signal, and

[0139] the electrode drive section applies the drive signal to the drive
electrodes, based on the touch-detection synchronization signal.

[0140] (5) The display panel according to (4), wherein the touch-detection
control section is integrated together with the electrode drive section.

[0141] (6) The display panel according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein a
capacitance is formed between each of the drive electrodes and each of
the touch detection electrodes, and

[0142] a detection signal according to the drive signal applied to the
drive electrodes is outputted from the touch detection electrode.

[0143] (7) The display panel according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein
the electrode drive section performs scanning by sequentially selecting
one or more electrodes to be driven out of the drive electrodes, and
applies the drive signal to the electrode to be driven.

[0144] (8) The display panel according to (7), wherein the electrode drive
section has a plurality of scanning modes whose methods of sequentially
selecting the electrode to be driven are different from each other.

[0145] (9) The display panel according to any one of (2) to (5), further
including

[0146] a power control section controlling power supply to the electrode
drive section and the display drive section, and integrated together with
the electrode drive section.

[0150] a drive section integrated into a chip, and driving the one or more
touch detection elements.

[0151] (11) A drive circuit including:

[0152] a display drive section driving one or more display elements; and

[0153] an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a
drive signal to one or more drive electrodes that extend in a direction
intersecting a direction in which one or more touch detection electrodes
extend.

[0154] (12) An electronic unit including a display panel with a touch
detection function and a control section performing operation control
using the display panel, the display panel including:

[0155] one or more display elements;

[0156] one or more drive electrodes extending in a direction;

[0157] an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a
drive signal to the drive electrodes; and

[0158] one or more touch detection electrodes extending in a direction
intersecting the direction in which the drive electrodes extend.

[0159] The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that
disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2011-089430 filed in
the Japan Patent Office on Apr. 13, 2011, the entire content of which is
hereby incorporated by reference.

[0160] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various
modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur
depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are
within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.